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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1787.
Congress Assembled, present Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, and from South Carolina Mr [Daniel] Huger.
The determination of the question1 which was yesterday put off by the State of Massachusetts was postponed by order of the House.
[Note 1: 1 Adjournment of Congress.]
On Motion2 of Mr [Rufus] King seconded by Mr [William] Pierce
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, p. 123, in the writing of Mr. Rufus King. The indorsement states it was passed April 10, which is evidently an error.]
Resolved, That the powers and duties of the commissioner appointed on the part of the United States, in pursuance of the Resolution3 of the 13th of April 1785 be united with those of the Commissioner of Army Accounts, and that he be directed forthwith to proceed to the State of Virginia,
[Note 3: 3 Journals, vol. XXVIII, p. 261.]
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in the place of Mr Fox, who has declined proceeding in this commission without an augmentation of his Pay.
Resolved, That the Salary of the Commissioner of Army Accounts cease during the time he shall be employed in pursuance of the foregoing Resolution, and that he be allowed during that term the pay heretofore established for that service.
Resolved, That the Commissioner of Army Accounts be authorised to appoint some suitable person to conduct the business of that office during his absence at a salary not exceeding the rate of 800 dollars annually.
On the report of the Agent of Marine to whom it was referred to report to Congress a re[a]sonable allowance per day for naval Officers employed on Courts Martial
Resolved, That such naval officers as have been or shall be employed on Courts Martial out of the States of their residence, or in a State where the ships or vessels of War to which they belong were or may be attached did not or shall not lie at the time of their being so employed, be and they are hereby entitled to an extra allowance of three dollars and one third of a dollar per day each, in addition to the pay and subsistence to which they were entitled by former Acts of Congress.
That the said extra allowance commence on the day such Officer or Officers shall set out from his or their place of residence, or from the Ship or vessel of War to which they were or may be attached at the time and continue until they return to their said residence, ship or vessel of war, allowing to each a reasonable time for going to and returning from the place of the sitting of such Court.
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[Report of Commissioner of Army Accounts on petition of W. Irvine1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 62, pp. 209--210, read April 11, 1787. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 144, the report was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. James Mitchel Varnum, Mr. Rufus King and Mr. Melancton Smith, which reported April 12, 1787.]
The commissioner of army accounts, To whom was referred the petition of General William Irvine, begs leave to report,
That on the 16th. of June 1775, Congress granted the additional pay of one hundred and sixty six dollars to a Major General when Commanding in a seperate department.
That an allowance of One Hundred and twenty five dollars monthly was granted on the 15th. of April 1777, to Brigadier General Howe2 and to any officer of equal rank who should succeed him in the Command of the Troops in South Carolina and Georgia, and also on the 14th. of May 1779 a grant was made to Brigadier General Moultrie3 of the extra pay of a Major General on a seperate command while he commanded the Southern army.
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. VII, pp. 269--270.]
[Note 3: 3 Journals, vol. XIV, p. 586, (May 13).]
That on the 8th. of May 1781, the allowance to an officer commanding a seperate department was given to the commanding General at West Point,4 which grants are all the precedents found on the Journals of Congress of allowances to Commanding officers of seperate Posts, and were repealed by the resolution of April 22d. 1782,5 excepting that to the General commanding the southern army. The supply of the tables therefore of the generals Commanding at Fort Pitt is unprovided for by any resolutions, which Command devolved on the following Officers Vizt. Brigr. General Hand from April 10th. 1777, to May 2d. 1778, Brigadr. McIntosh from about May 1778, to July 30th. 1779, Colonel Dan1 Broadhead from about July 1779, to September 24, 1781 and General Irvine from Sept. 24th. 1781, to the close of the war.
[Note 4: 4 Journals, vol. XX, pp. 488--489.]
[Note 5: 5 Journals, vol. XXII, p. 205.]
Your Commissioner having examined the settlements of these Gentlemen, finds that in no instance any extra pay has been admitted to their Credit in the offices of the United States, but from the consideration that, until the army were supplied by Contracts which was at Fort Pitt on the 20th September 1781, the Commanding Generals had the full and free opportunity to furnish their tables from the
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Commissaries Stores, at the public expence which issues has not and probably never can be Brought to their debit. Your Commissioner Conceives that the Case of General Irvine may probably be different from that of the other Commanding officers at those posts, and therefore begs leave to submit the same to the Consideration of Congress.
Jno. Pierce Commissr.
His Excellency The President of Congress
[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs transmitting diplomatic correspondence 1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 217, read April 11, 1787.]
Office for foreign Affairs10th. April 1787
Sir: I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency herewith enclosed, a Letter of 7th. February from the Marqs. De la Fayette2 and three Letters from Mr. Adams,3 dated 9th. and 24th. January and 3d. February last with the Papers mentioned to have been enclosed with them. As to the Papers enclosed by the Marquis they have heretofore been laid before Congress.
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 156, pp. 454--455. Discusses events in Europe and America and encloses copy of correspondence with Floridablanca.]
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 84, VI, pp. 363--365, 392--395 and 419--421 respectively. The letter of January 9 treats of treaty with Algiers, Portuguese negotiation, claim of English merchants and the house at the Hague. Its enclosures are on pp. 371--390. That of January 24 discusses Adams' retirement from his posts in Europe and recommendations as to diplomatic appointments. That of February 3 refers to the French treaty, Hastings and the return to America. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 145, the letter of January 24 was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. Report rendered July 26, 1787. See August 1, 1787.]
I have also received Letters from Mr. Jefferson which shall be communicated to your Excellency as soon as the Papers in french that accompanied them are translated.
I have the Honor to be, etc.,
John Jay
His Excellency The Prest. of Congress
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